Description
These Apple Hand Pies feature a flaky, all-butter pie crust filled with a delicious homemade cinnamon apple filling. Perfect as a hand-held treat, these pies are easy to prepare and bake to golden perfection in under 20 minutes, making them an ideal dessert or snack for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Crust
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, cubed
- 2 tablespoons vodka, frozen
- 2 tablespoons ice water
Apple Filling
- 3 apples (I used Honeycrisp, Granny Smith & Cripps Pink)
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 lemon, juiced
Finishing
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare Pie Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, kosher salt, and sugar. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut in the cubed unsalted butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the frozen vodka and ice water, mixing gently until the dough just comes together. Do not overwork. Shape into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Make Apple Filling: Peel, core, and dice the apples into small cubes. In a medium bowl, combine the diced apples with sugar, light brown sugar, ground ginger, cinnamon, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Toss well to coat and set aside to macerate while dough chills.
- Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/8-inch thickness. Using a round cutter approximately 4-5 inches in diameter, cut out circles and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Fill and Seal Pies: Spoon a generous tablespoon of the apple filling onto the center of each dough circle, leaving a border. Fold the dough over to form a half-moon shape and press the edges firmly with a fork to seal. Use a knife to cut small slits on top for steam to escape.
- Prepare Egg Wash and Sprinkle: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and heavy cream. Brush the top of each pie with the egg wash. Mix granulated sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle the mixture on top for added sweetness and texture.
- Bake Pies: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the hand pies for about 18-20 minutes or until they turn golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- The flaky all-butter pie crust is key to achieving the perfect texture for these hand pies.
- Using a mix of sweet and tart apples gives the filling a balanced flavor.
- The vodka in the dough helps produce a tender crust by preventing gluten development.
- Make sure to chill the dough before rolling for easier handling and better flakiness.
- These pies are best enjoyed warm but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 hand pie
- Calories: 268 kcal
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 141 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 47 mg
